Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed arrive at the 39th Annual American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011 in Los Angeles.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

SEETHER DRUMMER JOHN HUMPHREY HAS BEEN COLLECTING KISS FOR DECADES

By Chris M. Junior
Photo courtesy Clay Patrick McBride.

It started innocently enough with KISS trading cards when he was in grade school. Since then, Seether drummer John Humphrey’s collection of KISS memorabilia has grown tremendously in size and value — and it also includes items that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley no longer have.

Intrigued by the band’s look, and without even hearing a note of KISS music, Humphrey started collecting the KISS bubble gum cards manufactured by Donruss in the late 1970s. Luckily for Humphrey, a relative worked at a convenience store, so he had someone who could supply him with a steady stream of the 15-cent card packs.

For his eighth birthday, Humphrey received a copy of the 1978 K-Tel Records collection “Star Power,” which contained the KISS hit “Christine Sixteen.” By the time the band released “Creatures of the Night” in 1982, Humphrey was pretty much immersed in all things KISS. He finally saw his makeup-wearing, costume-clad heroes in person, when the tour supporting that album came to the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla.

Humphrey says his KISS memorabilia collection is insured and valued at $60,000 to $75,000. He has various items on display at home, and one of the more prominent pieces is the KISS pinball machine (made by Bally and introduced in 1978) that he purchased for $2,200 around 1999.

“I was smiling from ear to ear when I got that thing,” Humphrey says. “It was broken and needed a little love. It’s still the crown jewel of my collection.”

Humphrey said an auction house has been in touch with him about his KISS collection, but he remains an active collector. He really hasn’t parted with too many items over the years.

“I’m trying to upgrade,” he says. “I’m picky about mint and still-sealed items. Occasionally I’ll eBay something when I’m home, which isn’t too often — I’ll sell some stuff if I’ve upgraded — but I haven’t really let go of anything. All of the important pieces I still hold onto and still have.”

Humphrey has KISS items from all over the world, but he does have standards beyond those related to their condition.
“I don’t really get into all the new stuff — the lava lamps, the teddy bears,” he says. “Some people get everything. With me, it’s the vintage stuff.”

It would be hard to imagine Humphrey ever parting with two items in particular. One is an autographed outtake poster from the first KISS album. When the original KISS lineup reunited for a tour in 1996, The Nixons, Humphrey’s band at the time, opened for KISS, so he had Simmons, Stanley, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley sign the poster for him.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Goldmine.com

Thanks to our friend Ken Mills at KISS Fan Site for sending KOL the story!

Thanks to our friend Jeff for sending us this clip of the German act GREGORIAN singing KISS' "Crazy, Crazy NIghts" in Zagreb, Croatia. Jeff wrote "Of all the tribute and cover versions out there, this one is by far the most, um, unexpected... Just shows how versatile KISS' music really is!"




Here's GREGORIAN's studio version of "Crazy, Crazy Night".

Story and photos by Alison Fensterstock

When Philip James “Nino” Negri, 43, died in a freak car accident on Nov. 6, the obituary notice his family sent to The Times-Picayune looked pretty standard — until its last line:

“Nino would be honored to see his friends and attendees dressed in KISS clothing and memorabilia.”

In the midst of their grief over Negri’s death, his family had decided to pull together a memorial service that was compassionate and faithful to the way “Nino” lived his life.

It was clear from the gathering of family and friends at the Leitz-Egan funeral home in Metairie on Nov. 12 that this was no ordinary funeral. The mourners on the front porch of the building, sporting faded black band T-shirts instead of buttoned-up suits, would not have been out of place at an arena-rock show. One woman in a smart black suit and heels stood with her back to the parking lot; turning, she revealed an Iron Maiden tank top under her tailored jacket.

Nino’s father, Philip Negri Sr., wore a KISS guitarist Paul Stanley T-shirt, slightly too big for him, that he’d borrowed from his late son’s closet. A passionate KISS fan, he explained, his son had put several thousand dollars into tattoos of the band members, and perhaps more, over the years, into memorabilia.

“On Halloween,” Negri said, “he usually won the costume contest, dressing up like members of KISS.”

There is no official protocol for a funeral to send off a member of the KISS Army, the fan club for the band started in the ’70s, but it’s hard to imagine doing a better job than the Negri family did for Nino.

Items from his collection were displayed in the anterooms of the funeral parlor. On a laptop next to a vintage KISS lunchbox, “Detroit Rock City” played quietly under a slideshow of photos of Nino and his friends and family, including his 11-year-old daughter, Lizzy. Above it, on a ceiling-mounted flat-screen TV, the 1995 KISS “MTV Unplugged” special played silently.

KISS posters and photos were mounted on easels; a clay KISS ashtray sat on a side table. A flower arrangement in the shape of a Gibson Flying V guitar stood beside the urn holding Nino’s ashes, on top of which stood a tiny action figure of KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley.

Long-haired rockers in T-shirts emblazoned with KISS slogans (“KISS 30th Anniversary,” “KISS Kruise 2011”) mingled around the memorabilia with older family members, finding common ground in the loss of their loved one, and eager to explain Nino’s fandom. “Yes, they were a very theatrical band,” one ponytailed man explained to a conservatively dressed, silver-haired woman.

Thanks to our friends over at fan site KISS Asylum for this post.

This amazing billboard was recently erected over Times Square advertising the MotoACTV mp3 player. Nothing could be more appropriate than a 30-foot tall image of Gene’s face, (and 10-foot tongue), in his home town.

20 Album Drumming Medley, A KISS Tribute/Thanks from 5 year-old Avery

Dear KISS,

A few weeks ago, you were very kind to post Avery's Talent Show Drumming to Black Diamond. Avery was extremely happy and ecstatic! Your fans are the greatest, most encouraging in the world! So, to say THANK YOU, here's our little 5 year old drummer doing a specially made KISS Tribute Video (in makeup) featuring Avery's song picks from each of the twenty studio albums and played in order of their release. But as KISS would do, Rock and Roll All Nite was saved for last. He just wished “Monster” was already out to be included. He can't wait!

A funny story, on recording day, Avery seemed very tired, not really into it and had some problems transitioning from each song clip, but when that makeup went on, it was like a super hero costume for him. We can only assume it's the POWER of KISS.

Enjoy, Thanks!!!

Mom, Dad and Avery

CityArts Factory in Orlando, Florida is hosting the "It’s Alive Project," where 80 artists from around the world have re-imagined life-size Boris Karloff Frankenstein busts. Proceeds from the sale of the busts go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital which finds cures and saves children with pediatric cancer. This particular bust is called "KISS" by Bill Shannon.

Thank you to Geoffrey Blasiman for sending this to KISSonline.

KISS spent all day (and late into the night!) in the studio yesterday working on a new song for their "Monster" album.

Thanks to Eric Singer for taking these photos for KISSOnline.

PROCTOR MARCHING BAND, YOU LOOK GREAT!

Check out this great video of the Proctor Marching Band's Halloween KISS Parade! First, you see the band getting ready for their big night. Then, during the actual parade, they perform "Shout It Out Loud" and "Rock And Roll All Nite!"


Note from Rita Denko:

They were a HUGE Hit among the viewers standing in the cold. They also had a float that depicted KISS on stage...... it truly was amazing! We are so very proud of our students, and I thought I'd share this with you.

All the kids were excited to be featured on the KISS Facebook page, as well on KISSonline!!!

Thank you for sharing it w/ the KISS Army & fans.

We all sure enjoyed being KISS!!!

KISS Army members Tom Mady and Gary Fisher both spotted these cool KISS mini skateboards at Family Dollar! Thanks for sending your photos to KISSonline.

LETTERS

FANTASY GIRLS AND LAS VEGAS VALLEY FIREMEN

Photos: Erik Kabik/ RETNA

The Fantasy Girls of Luxor (above) and Las Vegas Valley Firemen, suited up today in the official KISS boots that are currently touring Las Vegas in celebration of the upcoming opening of KISS by Monster Mini Golf. The heroic men of the 'Firehouse' slipped into the KISS boots during a photo shoot at Dream Vision Studios today before the sexy ladies of Luxor's Fantasy made the place get 'Hotter Than Hell' when they also slipped into the famous boots.

On the heels of the announcement about KISS by Monster Mini Golf opening in early 2012, the KISS boots have been brought to Vegas for a limited engagement throughout the city.

KISS By Monster Mini Golf is the first of its kind and will include an indoor glow-in-the-dark custom-designed, rockin’ 18-hole miniature golf course, a state-of-the-art arcade, the largest KISS gift shop in the world, A KISS Gallery, “Hotter Than Hell” Wedding Chapel, a private VIP Room, FANtastic KISS themed event rooms and the “Rock ‘n Roll All Nite” Café.

CLICK HERE to view more photos from the shoot

Thanks to Daniel Iasbeck for sending KISSOnline this photo of Ringo Starr rockin' São Paulo, Brazil wearing a t-shirt of the Beatles in KISS make-up!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Dear KISS Online,

This morning I saw this outdoor ad from telecom provider KPN at a bus stop in Amsterdam.

KISS Rocks,
Silvio de Groot Amsterdam, The Netherlands

LETTERS

Story and photo by Chris Epting

In a small rehearsal on the fringes of North Hollywood, a band is working hard. Feeling their way several times through the Bo Diddley staple, 'Road Runner,' they're finally getting comfortable with each other. Then the band's leader decides to crack the whip.

She stops the band and issues a few orders. "You, come in harder after the first verse," she tells one of the two drummers. "And you," she tells the singer, "I want you to start singing up around here," before hitting the note she wants him to tackle.

The singer has a suggestion after that. "Tonight, I'm thinking of ripping my jacket off and kind of throwing it at a certain point." The boss thinks about it. "Okay," she says. "Do that."

Just another band rehearsal? Not really. The two drummers, two guitarists, bass player and vocalist, have just met a few days earlier. And the bandleader? The woman whose playing styles is as distinctive as her blonde hair and striking good looks: Lita Ford.

Welcome to Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, where average, everyday people can live out their rock and roll dreams in the span of just a few days.

The brainchild of producer David Fishof, this is the camp's 14th year.

With years of experience producing rock tours throughout the world, Fishof first got the idea for the camp as a way to give music fans the opportunity to see their rock dreams become reality by learning from some of the most influential artists in the industry. That dream first crystallized in 1997 and over the years, he has delivered some of the world's top rockers to mentor, teach, perform and just plain hang out with fans.

For this most recent edition, Paul Stanley from KISS served as head counselor and was joined by Ford, Vinny Appice, Nils Lofgren, Rudy Sarzo, Bruce Kulick, and a host of other industry heavyweights.

Here's a very KISS-ified ad for the MotoActiv, a combination music player and fitness tracker. KISS Army member Shanon Gillette spotted this sign at his Lifetime Fitness location in Illinois.

Thanks for sending the image to KISSonline!